FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8483, 10 July 1907, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

Matters a? - ? still progressing in connection wkh the intended visit of a New ZeiS'\nd professional Rugby team to L.igiand this season. and the combination has now been finally selected. There was some difficulty in making- the selection owing to the number of applications received for positions. In all, there were fifty or sixty applications, from all portions of New Zealand, and the number was finally weeded down to twenty-five men. It was the aim of the management to make a selection which would worthily represent the national pastime off the field as well as on, and, consequently, some very prominent player* have been passed over. The team will be very strong. It will include several of the most notable New Zealand players, and a fair new blood. It is believed that the combination will be known as the "All Blacks No. 2," the men wearing** exactly the same style of dress as their illustrious predecessors, even to the fernleaf. It is not improbable that, in addition to playing matches in Lancashire and Yorkshire, games will be played in London and Wales by teams representing the Northern countries and the visitors. A football match, Tinui v. Mataikuna, was played at Tinui, last Saturday, writes our correspondent, and resulted in a win for the former by 6 points (two tries) to nil. Previous to the match, these teams had a win each to their credit, and therefore the interest taken in the final match was very keen. The weather was all that footballers could desire, although the ground was wet and slippery. All the players .were in splendid form, and both sides played a dashing game. Mataikuna were unfortunate in not scoring, as, in the beginning of the game, three free kicks were awarded them right under tneir opponents' goal, but owing to the greasy stat;) of the ball no score resulted. The game, although a hard-fought one, was free from rough play. Mr W. H. Brooks was referee. The following will represent Albion 11. against Eketahuna, to-morrow, at Masterton:—A. Jones, F. Fenwick, W. Thompson, E. Simonson, A. Andrews. Tauri, A. Johnston, Maita, T. Tomlin, O. Galley, P. Mcßarron, A. Benge, H. Jones (captain), P. Haftka, G. Barr and J. Coyle. Players are requested to be on the ground at 3 o'clock. Red Star Juniors will play Martinborough, at Greytown, on Saturday.